Your official news source for Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Two-day blood drive to benefit THON

Campus blood drive scheduled Jan. 15-16Members of the Penn College community are encouraged to contribute life-saving blood during next month’s collection for the American Red Cross. Online appointments are available for the visit, scheduled from noon-6 p.m. Jan. 15-16 in Penn’s Inn (Bush Campus Center, second floor). Pediatric cancer patients also will be helped by the two-day drive, as $4 will be donated to the Four Diamonds Fund on behalf of Penn College Benefiting THON for each unit of blood collected. College Health Services will provide special THON T-shirts to successful donors, and director Carl L. Shaner – fresh from the snowy disruption of a November Bloodmobile – has “fingers crossed that the weather is good!” The specter of winter looms large over the Red Cross’s collection efforts, as the need for donors doesn’t get a snow day. Weather-related Bloodmobile cancellations add to a shortage that has already hit emergency levels, so faculty/staff and students are urged to consider rolling up their sleeves.

Penn College welcomes new employees

PCToday continues its regular feature – welcoming new full-time and regular part-time Pennsylvania College of Technology employees, as reported by the Human Resources Office.

Read more

Penn College women cagers snap 19-game loss string

Applied human services major Cassi L. Kuhns notched her first double-double of the season against Bryn Mawr, with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Pennsylvania College of Technology women’s basketball team went 1-1 in nonconference action over the weekend in its final games of 2018.

Read more

Concrete industry welcomes tomorrow’s workforce

Apropos the hands-on education in their school of choice, Penn College students were granted access to real-world equipment.

Students and faculty oblige their hosts for a fun photo op.

Penn College construction majors traveled to Malvern this month for an eye-opening perspective on the commercial concrete industry. Instructors Franklin H. Reber and Harry W. Hintz Jr. accompanied students from their Concrete Construction (BCT238) classes on a visit to Forcine Concrete & Construction Co. “The company took a lot of consideration into the presentation of what they do,” said Josh E. Rosenberger, of Chambersburg, a residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration major. “We got our hands on everything from power trowels to pump trucks to total stations. We sat through several information sessions throughout the day pertaining to Forcine and its sister company, Durable Surfaces. Coming from a residential background, I was flabbergasted to hear that they pour over 1,000 yards of concrete per day with a crew of five or six.” Students were permitted to operate equipment – both at headquarters and at a nearby site where a pour had just occurred – and were given an extensive tour of the facility. “Forcine Concrete is very encouraged to finally have found a partner in Penn College that is teaching the next generation work skills that we can utilize in our growing industry,” said Derek Cressman, president of Durable Surfaces, who, given the caliber of students that visited, said company officials look forward to maintaining the relationship with the college. Of the students in attendance, five are enrolled in the concrete science technology major that began during the just-ended Fall 2018 semester (and can be completed in only one year beyond a building construction technology degree). The first cohort of students from the new major will enter their internship experience this summer.
Photos provided

Students’ Africa-influenced art featured at CAC

A work by John A. Gondy, of Glenmoore, enrolled in residential construction technology and management: architectural technology concentration

On display through Dec. 22

Abstract artistry by Nowell H. Covington, a construction management student from Benton

Stabley's craftsmanship

Inspired by African tribal masks, artwork by students in wood sculpture classes taught by Penn College art faculty David A. Stabley and Brian A. Flynn is on display at the Community Arts Center through Dec. 22. Each student delivered a presentation and made sketches, then created a small-scale model in clay or Plasticine. They then hand-carved their masks out of pine blocks with mallets, gouges and rasps, encouraged by faculty to incorporate the principles of form, texture, color and pattern into their abstract designs.

Penn College electrical students help power park

Ian J. Chilcote, of Altoona, was one of 15 electrical technology students from tasked with installing electrical power.

Pennsylvania College of Technology electrical students powered their education throughout the fall semester by employing their skills at a regional park.

The 15 second-semester students installed electrical service at Lime Bluff Recreation Area in Hughesville. What began in the heat of August ended in December’s chill as the students worked about five hours a week at the complex.

“The work they did can’t be replicated in the lab due to the nature of it,” said Joseph R. Raup, instructor of electrical technology/occupations and teacher of the Construction Lab II-Commercial course charged with the project. “We don’t have the area to do the trenching and the underground type of work.”

Read more

Civil engineering major earns one of four $2,000 awards

Derek M. Grose, of Watsontown, a civil engineering technology student at Penn College, has received a $2,000 award from the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Central Pennsylvania Section.

A civil engineering technology student at Pennsylvania College of Technology is one of four to be recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Central Pennsylvania Section for outstanding academic achievement.

Among those presented with a $2,000 check at the section’s November dinner meeting, marking the 27th time that the awards have been presented, was Derek M. Grose, of Watsontown. Grose earned an associate degree in surveying technology in May and is scheduled to add a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology at the end of the Spring 2019 semester.

Read more

Electrical students power their education at regional park

Second-semester students seeking an associate degree in electrical technology at Penn College installed electrical service to Lime Bluff Recreation Area in Hughesville throughout the fall semester. The 15 students gained four months of “real-world” experience as they provided lighting and outlets to a maintenance building and a park pavilion, granting a longtime wish of the East Lycoming Recreation Authority to bring electricity to the park. “They really saved us a ton of money, both in drafting and in electrical,” said Thomas Zavalydriga, project director for the authority. “I’ve been in management all my professional career and these students have done just an outstanding job from a professional … and a personal standpoint.”

Students crack ‘code,’ open window onto IT careers

Students from South Williamsport Junior/Senior High School use a “Tower of Hanoi” to learn the foundations of computational thinking – which requires no computer.

High school students draw paths for their Ozobots.

Alicia McNett, instructor of computer information technology, offers encouragement to a group of students from Milton High School.

Spyke M. Krepshaw, instructor of web and interactive media, confers with students from South Williamsport.

A high-schooler draws multicolor paths to direct her color-sensing Ozobot.

Penn College took part in a worldwide movement on Monday as host of an Hour of Code event for students from five high schools. A collaborative effort between the college’s School of Business & Hospitality and School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, the event provided lessons in coding without technology and programming Ozobots, led by faculty members Anita R. Wood, associate professor of computer information technology; Spyke M. Krepshaw, instructor of web and interactive media; and Alicia McNett, instructor of computer information technology, as well as a campus tour. Wood emphasized to students that computer programmers are not necessarily smarter than others, but they are persistent in trying to solve puzzles and problems. The Hour of Code movement started as a one-hour introduction to computer science designed to demystify “code,” to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. Most events take place during or near Computer Science Education Week. The week is held annually to recognize the birthday of computing pioneer Adm. Grace Murray Hopper on Dec. 9, 1906. More than 219,000 events were registered in more than 180 countries in 2018. Schools participating at the Penn College event were Commonwealth Charter Academy, Hughesville High School, Milton High School, South Williamsport Junior/Senior High School and York County School of Technology.

‘Snowball’ festively signals semester’s imminent end

Illuminated in blue and highlighted by the tree's seasonal glow

Students – including Christopher D. Hogan, of Halifax, and Nicolette B. Crow, of Elizabethtown – take to the dance floor.

Alumnus Caleb G. Shirmer, of Williamsport, and student Holly J. Wilson, of Lock Haven, enjoy the food and ambience.

The crowd dances to "Cotton Eye Joe."

Among the attendees are Hannah E. Dawson and James C. Hendrie, both of Williamsport.

A sold-out crowd enjoyed Snowball 2018 this past week, flocking to the Thompson Professional Development Center for the Wildcat Events Board’s annual semiformal dance.
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer

Assistant director of corporate relations named

Jamie R. Miller

Jamie R. Miller has been appointed assistant director of corporate relations at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Miller, of Wellsboro, has been a coordinator of residence life at Penn College since September 2017 and head wrestling coach since May 2017. He begins his new duties on Jan. 7 and will remain as head wrestling coach.

Read more

Early Educators Club shares holiday warmth with YWCA residents

From left: Students Rebecca L. Helminiak, Williamsport, and Rachel L. Hafer, Boyertown; Dawn Linn, YWCA chief exectuive officer; Amy Rutherford, Liberty House case manager; student Leigh A. McCarty, Williamsport; and Anna Thompson, the YWCA's communications and development director.

Overflowing gift baskets, bound for local YWCA residents, surround the facility's tree.

Students from Penn College’s Early Educators Club made the holidays brighter for residents of the YWCA Northcentral Pennsylvania, delivering more than 20 laundry baskets brimming with donations. Members filled each basket with a blanket, various hygiene items, gloves and children’s toys.
Photos provided

Instructor named among Top 25 by Bake magazine

Chef Charles R. Niedermyer

A Pennsylvania College of Technology graduate-turned-instructor was recognized as one of the nation’s leading educators and mentors in Bake magazine’s annual “Twentyfive” special edition.

Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts at Penn College, was profiled with 24 other industry leaders in the magazine’s November 2018 issue.

“For the first time, we turn the spotlight on education in our annual Twentyfive special edition, highlighting professional educators and mentors who go above and beyond to educate, inspire and lead in the fields of baking, pastry and chocolate,” editor John Unrein notes in the issue. “They work tirelessly to help the industry reach new heights and achieve excellence in quality and presentation.”

Read more

Students ‘soldier’ on to complete project by ceremonial deadline

The toy soldier takes shape in College Avenue Labs ...

... where a focused group of students worked against the clock to fabricate and assemble a splendid keepsake.

Students and Klinger (standing at front left) proudly display their handiwork.

Standing at attention outside the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, the majestic creation would be equally at home in the finest Manhattan storefront.

Penn College’s decades-old tradition of large-scale holiday cards on the campus mall got an impressive add-on for the 2018 season: a massive toy soldier jointly fashioned by automotive restoration majors and manufacturing students in instructor Roy Klinger’s metal-shaping classes. “We were trying to think of something we could build to go with the holiday cards, and we came across an image of a 12-foot-tall toy soldier,” said Arthur M. Wright IV, an automotive restoration technology major from Woodbridge, New Jersey. “We figured we would give it a try because it could end up looking really cool!” A group of students from the manufacturing program assisted restoration majors with drawing and designing the toy soldier. The inner structure is mostly plywood arranged to help support the weight of the towering statue, Wright said, while the outer shell is completely made of aluminum. “The restoration students made paper patterns of the shapes provided by the drawing that the manufacturing students prepared for us,” he explained. “We then shaped all the pieces using the skills and techniques that we were learning in our metal-shaping class. The project really helped us display the skills that we had been working so hard to develop.” It was a total team effort to complete the project, he said, estimating that it took all of four three-hour classes to fully realize their shared vision. “When we came in the Wednesday morning of the card-lighting ceremony (Nov. 28), we didn’t think we were going to be able to get it done,” said Wright, who also shared some of the students’ photos. “Most of the soldier was still in pieces, with no paint. But thanks to the guidance and leadership of our teacher, we were able to get everything finished before the ceremony started!”

Dent Fix donates aluminum repair station to Penn College

Penn College students and collision repair instructor Shaun D. Hack (in black shirt) listen as Daniel L. Maloney Jr., national sales director for Dent Fix Equipment and a member of the college’s Collision Repair Advisory Committee, demonstrates a donated aluminum dent-repair station.

Reflecting the increasing use of aluminum by automakers and affirming the value of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s industry partners, Dent Fix Equipment has donated a self-contained aluminum dent-repair station for use by the institution’s collision repair and automotive restoration students.

“This equipment package provides all the necessary tools to complete aluminum repairs to an industry standard,” said Shaun D. Hack, instructor of collision repair. “This adds value to the collision repair technology, collision repair technician and automotive restoration technology majors by adding skill sets that will be desired by potential employers.”

Read more

Popular Items

Share your news

Have something to share with the community? Let us know.

Penn College is a special mission affiliate of Penn State